24 oz dried Red small beans
2 pounds Italian sausage or or hamburger
1 large onion, diced
6 bay leaves
1 tsp salt
2 (28) oz cans diced tomatoes
1 (16) oz can tomato sauce
1 (6) can tomato paste
3 TB chili powder
3 TB cumin
1 TB brown sugar or honey
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper
If you want it hotter add 1/3 cup tamed jalepeno slices, drained.
- Soak beans in large pot overnight. When ready to cook the chili, add the diced onion, bay leaves and salt to the beans and boil until the beans are soft. Pour out excess water until the water and bean levels are the same.
- Brown the meat in a large skillet. In a separate large pan, make the sauce. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, sugar, black pepper, red pepper, and jalapeรฑos. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add meat and sauce to the pot of beans and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve chili warm.
- Note-you can adjust the seasonings to your likings. We like it spicy! Also feel free to add your favorite chili toppings-cheese, crackers, green onion, sour cream, or butter-) It is also great with cornbread.
This is the recipe how we make it. The full version is down in the link below.